Wichita eagle., 1887-01-08
-~EsSs>AlIazs
1ailY = eagle.
MUTES OF ALASKA.
A STURDY PEOPLE WHO DWELL
NORTH OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.

Marital Arrangenents--Bolie in Evil
Spirits-Cur;Ous Superstitions.
In previously published works this race
has been denominated as the word In
mutt This nomenclature arose from the
incompetence of the interpreters. In
mutt means men" being the plural of
innuk, ''lnan These people have no
name as a race, but designate Themselves
'Mutes," which literally translated, means
ga dweller at or upon" For instance, a
native born ct the village on Point Hope
(Tigerach is a Tigerach Mute; one born at
Point Barrow is a Noo-vuk Mute, and 50
OF, deriving their classification from the
place Of nativity. This IS somewhat similar
to our custom Of saying a New Yorker, a
native of the Empire City, San Francis
can or Bostonian.
The popular idea prevails that these PEG
p!e resemble tLCso living on the eastern
Shores OF the Arctic ocean and Greenland,
bit while en the Greenland side the stature
OF ia natives i small, upon the Alaskan
side numeI Gus measurements taken by me
Of 'oota sexes show an average height in the
males OF five feet eight inches and in the
females Of five feet four inches. There are
MANY men, and women too, especially at
Point Barrow and Point Hope, that measure
nearly SIX feet, and al well proportioned.
II their facial characteristics these people
partake Of the Eongolian type. Examina-
ton of skulls and living persons show the
high. prominent cheek bones, the oblique
shaped eye setting, the elongated Eostriis,
and straight. coarse, black hair Of the Ash
attic race. BY reason of their hardy life
their limbs are of a strong mold. The only
T~1,r ,~rl hon
was tendency in the knees and feet TO bend
inward Nore especially is this to be no
ticed in the women, circumstance [ attrib-
ute to their carrying heavy weights upon
the lover portion Of the spine, while The
uneven surface of the ground ior!iGs walk
ing in any level manner. Another reason
for this maiformation is the length Of time
these people are confined to their boats
when travelling along the coast. Through
out the entire territory OF Alaska and the
Aleutian islands it is very rare to see a ma
tive of either sex, exhibiting . perfect up
right carriage. The Aleuts at tie Seal
islands and Oonalas3za, both males and fe-
males, resemble in their walk the Waddle Of
q duck
Physically, these Niutes are very strong,
their powers of endurance ere great, and,
as a sequence to the sole rim Of their exist
ence, j. C., TO obtain foaa, .hoir powers of
observation and acu5cHgss ii hunting, both
OIL land and sea, are strongly developed.
Were il rot for the thick layers of dirt
covering their skin the complexion Of these
peoples would be almost white. Until old
age comes on their teeth are well shaped
and sound; their eyes OF q deep brown hue,
bright and sparkling and extremely express
sive Many eases of marked good looks can
be seen among them, while Intelligent and
pleasing manners are general characters
tics The family relations existing between
these people are somewhat difficult to deter
mine This arises from the fact that when
4 man takes a wife he may retain her as
long as he pleascs or she may leave him
and obtain another protector. Instances
where the woman never leaves her first
protector are rare.
While the mother is always The first TO be
consulted before any marital arrangements
are entered upon, journey undertaken, or
trading engaged in, the father final as
sent is the one to be obtained. Bat living
as these MUtes do in community. each ono's
affairs become his neighbor's, and every one
has something to say in ano;hcr'5 affairs.
Garrulity is prominent trait among the
women who are quite on a par with their
civilized sisters in retailing gossip and scan
dal When q man desires TO become pos
sessed of a girl to share Lis fortunes, over
lures are made 70 her parents and herself
Should acquieScance be obtained, presents
OF skins and food are made to the girls pa
rents and she becomes his spouse. Such emo
tons as love, tenderness, or cG3earmcnt are
unknown. the woman Is simply regarded rs
worker. 10 sew and cook and bear chill
dran. Unless she by force OF character OBJ
tains soma influence over the man her lot IS
anything bat enviabie. Upon ,ae least fit Of
anger upon his part Guns, blows ard licl:s
are siiowcTel upon her, but these 60 not
create Iauoh astonis.lment in the village,
simply forming a theme of gossip among
the old women.
4 BELIEF in the presence Of evil spirits con
stitutc5 the only religious ideas among the
Mutes. There are among them individuals
called joonrachS, corresponding to the
shan0u OF The siberian tribes. T. Il person
is sick beIere the whaling season com
mences, or a oLila is born before going on
q Journey or building n house, Tie services
OF the Sham2n is called in rcquisiciol. The
modlis opcTardi IL every case Is very SINH
lar. The sh0ioan, after q long spell OF
silence. suddenly begins to roll his ewes, con-
vulsiyc shakes pervaGc his frame and he
gives uttcraEce 10 various groans and signs
intermiugicd WITH sentences pe.tainilg to the
subject upon which he is engaged. During
the time of his performance a continuous
beating upon drum IS Kept u. Toward
the end raroXys.ns, or rather commissions Of
exaltatioh similar 10 what have been de
scrbsI g prevailing at the finale Of = thall-
err meeting. are exhibited by the slanan.
Froth cxujcs from hrs mouth. his lyes glare
and roll, and his whole frame igcoGtcrted.
Perspiratioa four5 from his face. aud he is
entirely exhausted. The loud invocations
TO the eyi! spirits to vacale the body Of the
sick person, or 20 drive them away from
the sea TO enable the whales or seals 10 rr-
rive beome gradually sub3Cod, dying away
into incohercnt mUtterin-s. Tlca after q
whilo he r2r0ins his conHoslr2. .ccM1lq-
Gently smokes his pipe, and receives his pay
for services performed. II TIE operation IS
performed over a sick person and recovery
does not ensIIe the payment made IS re-
turned, Il custom that might be adyan-
tageously adopted among civilized persons.
Some curious sGpersIiuons are also TO DO
noted. II q person is sick, iron too. such
as axes or Knives, cannot be usci in the
house Upon mans grave his s,.sl. Is
placed, but broken IL pieces, and his !5-,.cl
meets similar usage. Fu-S, spears and
rifles are also deposited, while, i the irdi-
vidual has killed many whales, lie long jaw
bones Of the balaena are placed in IN up
right position TO mark the spot. These peo-
pie bury their dead upon tho ground, rails
ing number Of pieces of drif,wood in the
shape of Z tent over the remains Owing
to this insecure mode Of burial, The wood
soon falls down and affords entrance 10
fozs and GoEs. who make hovoc with the